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Media Center momentum

Jan. 8, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Microsoft just sent me a little tidbit about Media Center "momentum" at CES. While this type of thing wouldn't normally be of much interest, the bit about Media Center evolution--past, present, and future--is absolutely worth a look. I feel like Media Center has been stuck in a rut for a while, so it's nice to see them finally highlighting it again.

Windows Media Center was a key focus of the entertainment and Connected TV message for Windows 7 during Wednesday's Keynote.

Also, would encourage you to check out this new video that was just released summing up the Evolution of Windows Media Center” – past, present and future.

Now, for CES 2009:

  • CES is the first consumer showcase of Windows Media Center in Windows 7. 
    • Windows 7 includes a number of enhancements for Windows Media Center, including the new Electronic Program Guide (EPG), which gives you all of your internet TV in one place
    • Windows Media Center in Windows 7 also delivers choice in how you interact with your PC, highlighted by HP TouchSmart UI and features such as Turbo Scroll
    • The ability to access Windows 7 content almost anywhere with PlayTo functionality

  • Momentum: We’re at an exciting juncture for connected TV experiences, and people are increasingly going to Windows Media Center to watch TV on the PC:
    • Nearly 10 million unique users are regularly using Windows Media Center in any given month.
    • Each session is averaging nearly 90 minutes – that’s a huge number when you compare it to other Internet-based TV applications and far exceeds the traditional “snacking” of online content.

  • New Windows Media Center Platform Support

o Toshiba joined the growing support from major CE companies enabling Windows Media Center experiences to extend to the TV by announcing they will integrate Extenders for Window Media Center technology into a series of TVs, LCD/DVD combo products and standalone network players, along with the "Widget Channel" backed by Intel and Yahoo! Click here for the press release.

Discuss this Article 18

ehanson555
on Jan 8, 2009
I would love to see Windows Media Center at the heart of my entertainment system, but until CableCARD hardware support becomes more readily available and less expensive, there is no way that is going to happen. There are several higher-end HTPC companies that have had great WIndows Media Center machines with CableCARD support, but they were extremely expensive. Dell and HP have had models in the past that were less expensive, but far exceeded in cost compared to even the most expensive TIVO (w/ 3-yr subscription). And some of those Dell and HP models have been discontinued. It would be nice to see MS get more involved with Cable Labs to somehow reduce the cost associated with getting external/internal CableCARD tuners. Once I can get a Windows Media Center w/CableCARDs to compete in price with a TIVO S3/HD w/3-yr subscription, then we are talking.
dmccall
on Jan 8, 2009
Thanks for the update! I am a new VMC with CableCard user and LOVE IT. The only improvement I would make is to get a subscription music service to plug into Media Center (currently one of my extenders, the D-Link750, will play music from my Rhapsody library, but it requires a computer on the network to be up in uPNP mode.). I heard you railing against VMC and the extenders in Windows Weekly and am scratching my head. I think this system is phenomenal, and kind of what I have always dreamed of having. I am a regional sports fan and will not give up cable, so the Apple TV's appeal is overwhelmingly bewildering.
weedmonk
on Jan 8, 2009
Other than the occasional irritating "Copying Prohibited" flags I see on some channels randomly the new update has been pretty nice. Mostly eye-candy but I do like how they've re-done the in-channel mini-EPG and enabled access to your recordings via the taskbar jumplist.
m04arch
on Jan 8, 2009
Actually I'm hoping for of a solution that does not involve a cable card. Cost, hardware fiascos, OEM only...geez. I cringe ever time I hear cable card. What Media Center REALLY needs to be widely adopted by most techno-illiterate consumers is native HD support for any geographic location, H.264 (insert codec here). This is widely agreed upon (technical and legal difficulties aside) a large consensus at places like Engadget and The Green Button. Agreed on the extender functionality...good move by MS.
tayme
on Jan 8, 2009
I wish that DirecTV would get to that rumored HDPC-20...that looks like a sweet little sat. tuner made to work with MC. But, alas...so far it has been nothing but vaporware. --tayme
m04arch
on Jan 8, 2009
oops, sorry, I meant to include with other post b/c this is somewhat off topic for this blog entry, but what about Windows 7 playing well with Windows Home Server? Has anyone had a chance to observe this...Paul? I've heard but not observed that W7's Homegroup and WHS don't play well together.
m04arch
on Jan 8, 2009
@ tayme yeah the HDPC-20 has been 'temporarily shelved' http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/HDPC-20/ I was looking forward to that. There was a time when TV sets were 'cable-ready'...plug the coax into the TV and you were golden. Wonder if we'll ever see computers/HTPC/Media PC's be 'cable-ready', 'satellite-ready' or whatever...
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 8, 2009
tayme Ed Bott's reported about a month ago that DirecTV killed the HDPC-20. http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=614 Which sucks for those of us wanting to replace their aged but still amazingly good UltimateTV boxes.
gorath
on Jan 8, 2009
I wish they'd work with SKY in the uk (digtial sattelite broadcasters) to find a way to let Media Center work as a sky receiver.
tayme
on Jan 8, 2009
Bummer...I missed that on Engadget...and I don't regularly read Bott...That sucks...it had promise, I think. --tayme
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jan 8, 2009
tayme While they said they'd killed the HDPC-20 the people at DirecTV did make it sound like they were working on something else to integrated a DirecTV tuner kit with Media Center in the letter Ed Bott quoted. Still, DirecTV has been promising a solution for a while now with nothing shipping to show for it.
tayme
on Jan 8, 2009
I do have a DirecTV tuner connected to my MediaCenter PC via the standard A/V in ports and I use an IR blaster to tune the box. In reality, it is the best IR blaster that I have ever used. I remember the days of connecting TiVo to DTV. The TiVo IR blaster sucked. The quality of the recordings that I get are not too bad...but nowhere near HD quality. I like being able to copy the recordings over to my laptop to watch them when traveling. --tayme
Sevenmack
on Jan 8, 2009
Damn DirecTV. Love the service -- been a subscriber for a decade now and wouldn't even leave for cable -- but they have definitely slowed on innovation. They need to get into the game and develop a box that will work with MC yesterday.
Yawn!
on Jan 8, 2009
-OT @Tayme, >my MediaCenter PC via the standard A/V in ports and I use an IR blaster to tune the box. Damm dude, you have an eye for the toys. Can you also pass along the brand of your IR blaster. Thanks in advance! P.S. My XE104's are on there way now I just need to figure out how I am going to bridge them as I have a 3 room addition with its own power source. Yawn!
rjohn05
on Jan 8, 2009
More TV manufacturers need to integrate MC extender technology into their TV sets. Samsung needs to jump on board.
tayme
on Jan 9, 2009
@Yawn! - Yeah, my wife thinks I'm nuts. Our house is full of gear. I usually throw a few things on craigslist once a year to clean it out. The IR Blaster that I have is the one that shipped with my HP Computer and Media Center Remote Control. I'm not sure who made the thing...maybe HP, but more than likely somebody else. Regarding the bridging of your XE104's...so, there is no common power between the sections of your house? That may prove troublesome... --tayme
tayme
on Jan 9, 2009
@Yawn! - The more that I think about it, the more I can't remember if the IR Blaster plugs into the TV Tuner card or the Remote Control Base station for the Media Center Remote...I sat it up a couple of years ago and it has been left alone to do its thing. I'll have to look when I am at home later on...I'll let you know. --tayme
anonymous
on Jan 14, 2009
Paul has some interesting stats about Media Center following CES last week: CES is the first consumer

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